Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-05
COMMITTEE WORK.
THE BUSINESS TRANSACTED AT THE CITY
HALL, LAST NIGHT.
The Stock Yards Question Debated for OVsr
an HOur-PubEe Improvements
Discussed.

1UeIt WAS dlOlhNl
Councilmen at the City Hall, last night,
four committees, two regular n two
special, having been called.
The Committee on Ordinances met In the
chamber of the First Branch Of Council
City Solicitor Caldwell submitted the draft
of an ordinance making it unlawful for
BARRIERS to keep their places of business
open upon the Sabbath day, and also an
ordinance authorizing the Trustees Of the
Gas Works to issue q written permit to
any manufacturer, upon request, who may
desire to use natural gas as an illuminant,
in a manner which shall not come i'll con-
fict with the use of the illuminating gas
manufactured by the City of Wheeling.
The committee recommended that both
measures pass.
The matter of the petition Of the owner
of the Second ward stock yards, to have
the ordinance in relation thereto amended
so as to exempt from its provisions a GER
tain territory in that part of the city, in
which a number of yards are now located,
was taken up, together with several petit
tons in favor of and against the proposed
change. Quite o number Of interested
citizens were present. Col. w. w. Arnett,
on behalf of the owners of the stock yards,
made a fOrcible and lengthy address TO the
Committee, and was followed by Hon.
Alfred Caldwell, representing those Oppo-
sed TO the continued existence Of the yards.
The presentation of their respective argu-
ments by these two gentlemen occupied
about an hour, and the addresses were
listened to with interest by the members
of the ICOmmittee. Mr.. Tracy also
addressed the Committee. He stated that
he had been obliged to move away from
the locality; that W houses on the street
were vacant and had been vacant for two
years, solely on account of the stock
yards; that other houses rented for much
less than they ought, and further, that II
the ordinance was repealed, a large stock
yard would be located on the Grant House
corner. One or two other gentlemen also
made brief remarks.
At the conclusion Of the arguments,
the Committee agreed to rec
ommend that it was ineXpedient to change
the existing ordinance in any manner.
The Committees on Streets, Alleys and
Grades, and Wharves, met in the office OF
the Board of Public Works, in conjunction
with that Board, Mr.. Myles presiding over
the Joint session. On the Chairman call
ing upon Mr.. Hobbs, of the Board, for an
estimate of necessary expenditures MIR.
1 Hobbs replied that no such estimate had
been prepared. The Board felt the need
OF q large amount of money and could do
a good deal of necessary work, and it would
like to have whatever money Council
could set aside for it, after providing for
the other departments of government.
Clerk Gallagher stated that the Board,
last year, expended $50, 800. 80 on account
of appropriation fund, and 25,432.5 81 Oh
account of contingent fund, making a
total of So, 500 .03. Council appropriated
$53, 600 last year outside of the contingent
fund.
Mr.. Cruise raised the point that the re-
straining ordinance required the joint
meeting to make an estimate of the money
needed for the current year. He thought
Mr.. Hobbs idea of taking whatever sur
plus money might be left after the other
city departments were provided for, was
not in keeping with the spirit of the Ordi-
nance.
Mr.. Hobbs said q detailed estimate was
not required by the ordinance and was out
of the question. The only thing the Board
could do would be to ask for some lump
sum, which might or might not be granted.
Therefore his proposition to take whatever
sum the Finance Committee could allow
would virtually be what would come
about in the end. If an estimate of
any sort should be made, it would he
scaled by the Finance Committee to suit
the demands of the other departments, and
then, after the lapse OF a few months, they
might find 4 deficiency somewhere, rs they
did last year, and scale down the apprO-
priatiOu once or twice more. Under these
circumstances it was futile for the Board
to attempt to make out a programme.
After "A general discussion it was agreed
to ask for a lump sum, and a resolution
was adopted asking for So, 900, outside
of the contingent fund and the ten cent
levy, the levying o (which is prOblematical,
Is vet.
The special committee on e%Xempting
new Industrial enterprises from the pay
ment of city taxes and water rents for a
term of years, and %rcprinting the city or
dinances, held brief and informal confer
ences, and adjourned to meet at n future
day.
The Committee on Accounts met in the
office of City Receiver DuGaway, yester-
day afternoon, and examined the books of
the Receiver and Clerk. The balances, as
aScertained, were as follows: